Mobile device case

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the invention provide a protective case for a mobile device. The protective case includes a cavity and a removable portion configured to be removably secured within the cavity. The removable portion can be removed and reinserted from the cavity to selectively expose either surface of the removable portion. A first surface of the removable portion can include a mechanism that can be used to mount the protective case, and therefore the mobile device, to a surface of a structure.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/196,072, which was filed on 23 Jul. 2015, and whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to mobile devices, and moreparticularly, to a protective case for a mobile device, such as acellphone, tablet, and/or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Mobile devices, such as cellphones, tablets, and/or the like, havebecome ubiquitous and are often carried nearly everywhere byindividuals. Frequently, an individual has his/her mobile device whenhe/she is performing/going to perform an activity that requires the useof both hands and/or during which holding the mobile device can becumbersome. During such an activity, the user may seek to utilize one ormore functions provided by the mobile device. For example, a user canuse a mobile device to listen to music, watch video, and/or the like,while exercising. The user may also simply want to keep the mobile phoneclose by while exercising in case of an emergency call. Other examplescan include looking up directions while driving, watching a cookingvideo while making dinner, performing a home improvement task, and/orthe like.

In all of these scenarios, a user may want to see the mobile devicewhile performing an activity, but require the use of both hands inperforming the desired activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention provide a case for an electronic device, whichincludes a removable portion capable of having either surface of theremovable portion facing outward. An embodiment of the case can providea solution for temporarily attaching a mobile device, such as acellphone, tablet, and/or the like, to a surface.

A first aspect of the invention provides a protective case comprising: acavity; a removable portion configured to be removably secured withinthe cavity; and a means for removing and reinserting the removableportion from the cavity to expose either surface of the removableportion.

A second aspect of the invention provides a system comprising: aprotective case including: a cavity; and a set of removable portions,each removable portion configured to be removably secured within thecavity with either surface of the removable portion selectively exposed,wherein at least one of the set of removable portions includes a surfaceincluding means for temporarily securing the protective case to asurface of a structure.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of mounting anelectronic device to a surface comprising: securing the electronicdevice in a protective case, the protective case including: a cavity; aremovable portion configured to be removably secured within the cavity;and a set of grooves located adjacent to the cavity configured to allowa user to remove the removable portion; and removing and reinserting theremovable portion in order to expose a first surface of the removableportion including means for temporarily securing the protective case tothe surface; and mounting the protective case to the surface.

The illustrative aspects of the invention are designed to solve one ormore of the problems herein described and/or one or more other problemsnot discussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an illustrative protective case for a mobile deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative protective case for a mobile deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an illustrative protective case for a mobiledevice mounted on a wall according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an illustrative protective case for a mobile deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an illustrative protective case for a mobile deviceaccording to an embodiment.

It is noted that the drawings may not be to scale. The drawings areintended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and thereforeshould not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In thedrawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, aspects of the invention provide a solution fortemporarily attaching a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet,a timer, and/or the like, to a surface. As used herein, unless otherwisenoted, the term “set” means one or more (i.e., at least one) and thephrase “any solution” means any now known or later developed solution.

Turning now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a back view of an illustrativeprotective case 10 for a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, tablet,and/or the like, according to an embodiment is shown. The protectivecase 10 can be made of any material that can provide protection to themobile device within the case 10. Although the case 10 is shown in FIGS.1A and 1B as rectangular, it is understood that the case 10 can be anyshape. The back of the protective case 10 can include a cavity 12 thatis configured to contain a removable portion 14. The removable portion14 can be formed of a material that is substantially the same as theprotective case 10. Alternatively, the removable portion 14 and theprotective case 10 can be formed of different materials. Additionally,the removable portion 14 can be sized to fit entirely within the cavity12. Although the cavity 12 and the removable portion 14 are shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B as rectangular shapes, it is understood that the cavity12 and the removable portion 14 can be any shape, such as, a star, acircle, a square, a triangle, and/or the like.

The removable portion 14 can be removably attached to the protectivecase 10 and within the cavity 12 by a securing force generated using anysolution. For example, the removable portion 14 and cavity 12 can beconfigured to hold the removable portion 14 in place by tension exertedon the removable portion 14 when located within the cavity 12.Alternatively, the removable portion 14 and/or cavity 12 can include oneor more mechanisms for generating and exerting the securing force on theremovable portion 14 to secure it within the cavity 12. For example, oneof the removable portion 14 and cavity 12 can include a set of magnetsembedded therein, while the other of the removable portion 14 and cavity12 can include a material attracted to the magnetic force of the set ofmagnets. In this case, the magnetic force between the removable portion14 and at least one surface of the cavity 12 can removably secure theremovable portion 14 in the cavity 12. It is understood that themagnetic force can be applied from any combination of one or more of thefive surfaces (e.g., four edges and bottom surface) of the cavity 12.

In an embodiment, the protective case 10 is configured to enable a userto remove the removable portion 14 from and insert the removable portion14 into the cavity 12 while the mobile device is secured in theprotective case 10. To this extent, the protective case 10 can furtherinclude a set of mechanisms to assist a user in removing the removableportion 14. For example, the protective case is shown including a groove16 that is adjacent to the cavity 12. The groove 16 can comprise anindentation formed in the protective case 10 to expose a portion of aside of the removable portion 14 when it is secured in the cavity 12. Itis understood that the groove 16 can include any shape. Further, it isunderstood that the case 10 can include any number of grooves 16. Forexample, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a protective case100 can include a first groove 116A and a second groove 116B, eachlocated at an end of the cavity 112. Furthermore, although the grooves16, 116A, 116B are shown at either ends of the cavities 12, 112, it isunderstood that the grooves 16, 116A, 116B can be located at anylocation adjacent to the cavity 12. A depth of the groove 16 can be atleast as deep as a thickness of the removable portion 14. In this case,a user can exert a force on an edge of the removable portion 14 adjacentto the groove 16 to lift the removable portion 14 out of the cavity 12.However, it is understood that this is only illustrative of varioussolutions that can be implemented.

The removable portion 14 can be configured to be placed within thecavity 12 such that either side of the removable portion 14 is exposedto the back of the protective case 10. In this manner, the user canselectively decide which side of the removable portion 14 is exposed. Inan embodiment, a first side 18A (FIG. 1A) of the removable portion 14 isconfigured to allow for easy gripping of the protective case 10 by theuser, ready placement and removal of the protective case 10 fromlocations in which mounting is not desired, and/or the like, while asecond side 18B (FIG. 2) of the removable portion 14 includes amechanism for enabling the protective case 10, and the mobile deviceheld therein, to be removably mounted to a surface. In this case, themechanism and protective case 10 can be sized such that the mechanismdoes not contact the mobile device held within the protective case 10when the corresponding surface of the removable portion 14 is facinginward. In an embodiment, the mechanism comprises an adhesive materialembedded in or applied to at least a portion of the second side 18B ofthe removable portion 14.

In an illustrative embodiment, when a user of a mobile device securedwithin the protective case 10 wishes to have hands-free support for themobile device, the user can insert a finger into the groove 16 to removethe removable portion 14. The securing (e.g., magnetic) force betweenthe removable portion 14 and the cavity 12 should be strong enough sothat the removable portion 14 does not fall out of the cavity 12, butnot too strong to allow for the user to readily remove the removableportion 14. Once the removable portion 14 is removed from the cavity 12,the user can flip the removable portion 14 before reinserting theremovable portion 14 into the cavity 12 such that the second side 15Bwith the securing mechanism is exposed.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the protective case 10 is shown with the secondside 18B of the removable portion 14 now facing the outside of theprotective case 10. The second side 18B is shown including a securingmechanism 20, such as an adhesive, a magnet, and/or the like, centrallylocated thereon. In an embodiment, the securing mechanism 20 can beformed of a removable adhesive, such as the Command™ Adhesive, and/orthe like. Regardless, the securing mechanism 20 can be selected andsized to enable the securing mechanism 20 to secure the protective case10 and mobile device secured therein in a desired location, such as onexercise equipment, on a wall, on a refrigerator, on a microwave, and/orthe like. Turning now to FIG. 3, the securing mechanism 20 of theremovable portion 14 can be configured to temporarily attach theprotective case 10 (and the mobile device held within the protectivecase 10) to a surface 22 of a structure. For example, the surface 22 cancomprise a substantially vertical surface (e.g., a wall, cabinet,shelve, and/or the like).

Turning now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, cut-away side views of an illustrativeprotective case 10 for a mobile device 24 according to an embodiment areshown. The mobile device 24 is located at the front 26 of the case 10,while the cavity 12 including the removable portion 14 is located at theback 28 of the case 10. It is understood that both the securingmechanism 20 and the removable portion 14 do not contact the mobiledevice 24 and that there is a space 30 between the cavity 12 and themobile device 24. The space 30 can be formed of any material, such asair, a plastic material, an insulating material, and/or the like. In anembodiment, the space 30 can be the same material as the material of theprotective case 10. In another embodiment, the space 30 can be formed ofan insulating material that can protect the mobile device 24 if thesecuring mechanism 20 and/or the case 10 includes a magnet, e.g., toisolate the mobile device 24 from the magnetic field.

The removable portion 14 can be attached to the cavity 12 of theprotective case 10 using any mechanism. In an embodiment, the removableportion 14 is configured to remain attached to the protective case 10while allowing the user to selectively change the side 18A, 18B (FIGS.1A and 2) of the removable portion 14 that is exposed. For example,turning now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an illustrative protective case 100according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the protectivecase 100 is similar to the protective case 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.However, a first end 132 of the removable portion 114 is attached to thecavity 112 on the back of the protective case 100 by a set ofprotrusions 134. The set of protrusions 134 are located on the end 132of the removable portion 114 and each protrusion 134 can extend into acorresponding channel 136 located in the protective case 100substantially along a length of the cavity 112.

When a user wishes to change a side of the removable portion 114 that isexposed, the user can insert a finger into a groove 116A, 116B locatedadjacent to the end without the set of protrusions 134 (e.g., a secondend 138) to lift up that end of the removable portion 114. Then, theuser can slide the set of protrusions 134 along the channels 136 so thatthe set of protrusions 134 move from one end (e.g., the first end 132)to the opposite end (e.g. the second end 138) of the cavity 112. Theuser can then reinsert the removable portion 114 into the cavity 112. Asillustrated, the protective case 100 can include two grooves 116A, 116B,each located adjacent to opposing ends of the cavity 112 so that theuser can lift the either end of the removable portion 114 in order toflip the removable portion 114 and expose the alternative side 118A,118B. In an embodiment, each side 118A, 118B of the removable portion114 can include a visual indicator 140A, 140B to provide a visualindication for the user as to which side 118A, 118B of the removableportion 114 should be lifted.

Although the embodiments discussed herein describe including a securingmechanism 20, 120 on one surface of the removable portion 14, 114, it isunderstood that this is only illustrative of various embodiments inwhich one of two surfaces can be selectively exposed. For example, inanother embodiment, each side 18A, 18B, 118A, 118B can include adifferent graphic design, illustration, and/or the like, and a user canselect which side 18A, 18B, 118A, 118B is visible on the protective case10, 100. To this extent, one or both sides 18A, 18B, 118A, 118B of aremovable portion 14, 114 described herein can include a mechanism forselectively placing a design thereon, such as a transparent pocket orthe like.

In a further embodiment, a protective case 10, 100 described herein canbe provided with multiple removable portions 14, 114. In this case, oneof multiple removable portions 14, 114 can be utilized. For example,each of the plurality of removable portions 14, 114 can comprise adifferent mechanism (e.g., an adhesive, a magnet, and/or the like), fortemporarily securing the protective case 10, 100 and device 24, 124 to astructure. Similarly, multiple removable portions 14, 114 can includethe same mechanism. In this case, a removable portion 14, 114 can bediscarded after a number of uses, e.g., when an adhesive surface is nolonger sufficient to support the protective case 10, 100 andcorresponding device. In a still further embodiment, a removable portion14, 114 can be provided apart from the protective case 10, 100. In thiscase, a user can selectively obtain a desired removable portion 14, 114,e.g., having a particular securing mechanism, a particular surfacedesign, and/or the like.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to anindividual in the art are included within the scope of the invention asdefined by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case comprising: a cavity; aremovable portion configured to be removably secured within the cavity;and a means for removing the removable portion from the cavity andturning the removable portion before reinserting the removable portioninto the cavity to expose either an exterior surface or an interiorsurface of the removable portion, wherein the interior surface of theremovable portion includes a means for temporarily securing theprotective case to a surface of a structure.
 2. The protective case ofclaim 1, further comprising a set of grooves located adjacent to thecavity configured to allow a user to remove the removable portion. 3.The protective case of claim 1, further comprising a means forgenerating a securing force to removably secure the removable portionwithin the cavity.
 4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein thesecuring force is a magnetic force between the removable portion and thecavity.
 5. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the means fortemporarily securing the protective case to the surface of the structureincludes an adhesive material.
 6. The protective case of claim 1,further comprising a visual indicator located on at least one of: theexterior or the interior surface of the removable portion.
 7. Theprotective case of claim 1, wherein the removable portion includes a setof protrusions, each protrusion configured to extend into acorresponding channel located on a side of the cavity.
 8. The protectivecase of claim 7, wherein the corresponding channel is located along anentire side of the cavity, such that the set of protrusions can slidealong the corresponding channel.
 9. The protective case of claim 8,further comprising a first groove located at a first end of the cavityand a second groove located at a second end of the cavity, wherein thefirst and second grooves are configured to allow a user to lift an endof the removable portion.
 10. A system comprising: a protective caseincluding: a cavity; and a set of removable portions, each removableportion configured to be removably secured within the cavity with eitheran exterior surface or an interior surface of the removable portionselectively exposed, wherein the interior surface of at least one of theset of removable portions includes a means for temporarily securing theprotective case to a surface of a structure.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the means for temporarily securing includes an adhesivematerial.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the protective casefurther comprises a set of grooves located adjacent to the cavityconfigured to allow a user to remove the removable portion.
 13. Thesystem of claim 10, further comprising a means for generating a securingforce to removably secure the removable portion within the cavity. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the securing force is a magnetic forcebetween the removable portion and the cavity.
 15. The system of claim10, further comprising a visual indicator located on at least one of:the exterior surface or the interior surface of the removable portion.16. The system of claim 10, wherein the removable portion includes a setof protrusions, each protrusion configured to extend into acorresponding channel located on at least one side of the cavity,wherein the corresponding channel is located along an entire side of thecavity, such that the set of protrusions can slide along thecorresponding channel.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising afirst groove located at a first end of the cavity and a second groovelocated at a second end of the cavity, wherein the first and secondgrooves are configured to allow a user to lift an end of the removableportion.
 18. A method of mounting an electronic device to a surface of astructure, the method comprising: securing the electronic device in aprotective case, the protective case including: a cavity; a removableportion configured to be removably secured within the cavity; and a setof grooves located adjacent to the cavity configured to allow a user toremove the removable portion; and removing and reinserting the removableportion in order to expose an interior surface of the removable portionincluding means for temporarily securing the protective case to thesurface; and mounting the protective case to the surface.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein removing and reinserting the removable portionincludes: lifting the removable portion out of the cavity using at leastone of the set of grooves; and reinserting the removable portion intothe cavity, such that the interior surface including the means fortemporarily securing is exposed.
 20. The method of claim 18, whereinremoving and reinserting the removable portion includes: lifting oneside of the removable portion using one of the set of grooves; slidingan end of the removable portion including a set of protrusions extendingfrom the end of the removable portion along a corresponding set ofchannels located along at least one side of the cavity; and reinsertingthe removable portion into the cavity, such that the interior surfaceincluding the means for temporarily securing is exposed.